All Things Health and Wellness

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National Library Week April 23-29

This year’s theme is “There is More to the Story. ” The library is a wonderful way to promote reading for all ages. It is a free service and it may not be used as frequently by many due to the internet but it has a place in society. If you are of a certain age group you may remember going to the library to study, for field trips and or story hour.

Photo by Christina Morillo on Pexels.com

A reporter S.Benen, (March, 2023) recently published a story about a Republican member of Congress suggest that the nation’s public libraries be replaced with “church-owned” alternatives. Consider this missive Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana published on Twitter:

“Over time, American communities will build beautiful, church owned public-access libraries. I’m going to help these churches get funding. We will change the whole public library paradigm. The libraries regular Americans recall are gone. They’ve become liberal grooming centers.”

You may or may not agree with the Congressmen but public libraries serve their purpose. Although many of us do not utilize the library as often as we once did there are still households in this country that do not have access to a computer or the internet.

Support your local library. Stay informed and get active in your community, especially if you care about public libraries and books.

Just keeping you informed!

Featured

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day 4/22

National prescription drug take back day is the day you can dispose of unused or expired prescriptions. It is unacceptable to dispose of prescriptions in the sink or toilet. The Drug Enforcement Administration with host DEA’s National Prescription Take Back Day at locations across the country. They will collect tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs (DEA. gov, 2023)

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

“Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps and illicit drugs. Liquid products such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage” (DEA.gov, 2023).

The DEA (2023) recommends to take the medications out of their bottle and mix them with something unappealing like kitty litter or coffee grounds if a program is not available in your area. Seal them in a bag or disposable container, and throw them away (DEA. gov, 2023)

For more information go to https://www.dea.gov/takebackday#results OR call 1-800-882-9539.

Featured

Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a technique to assist you to live in the present moment, rather than regretting what may have happened in the pass or worrying about future events. Being present or attentive during a conversation, and or an activity can enhance the beauty and joy of the moment without judgment.

Meditation, yoga, dance or just sitting still are just a few activities that can assist you to become more mindful to the present moment. The goal is to connect to your present surroundings and acknowledge your emotions and feelings without labeling them as good or bad.

When was the last time you had a conversation with someone and you gave them your complete attention without engaging in another activity or thought during the conversation? We all have been programed to be ready with a response. It is very rare that we give our full attention to anything, even a short conversation.

It will take practice, but try to give your full attention to someone you are having a conversation with and notice how different it feels to be fully engaged and focused on the person you are listening to. This practice is not as easy as it seems.

There are structured mindfulness practices available to assist you in becoming more mindful. Check out the link below to listen to a few Mindful Moments, presented by Saybrook University to help you restore your well being during the day, and practice mindfulness.

References

Mindful Moments. https://www.saybrook.edu/mindfulness-moments/

Mindfulness, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/mindfulness

Featured

World Mental Health Day

It was World Mental Health Day, on October 10, 2021. Personally, I think we need a whole month to reset. There is so much going on, and if you do not take time to unplug you may feel over whelmed and depressed.

There are a few things you can do to ensure you stay balanced, and well. Get enough sleep, without adequate sleep your body can not regenerate, and you are cranky.

Enjoy nature, and go for a walk, or ride your bike.

Interact with others, some of us have been isolated for so long that we need some physical interaction with other adults. Don’t forget to wear your mask, if you have not been vaccinated.

Find an activity or craft that you enjoy. I exercise, and it is a great way to increase your stamina and well being. I have a friend who builds bird houses, and another who loves to work in the garden.

Take a drive and enjoy the scenery. I have been taking short week-end trips to re-energize, it will change your outlook. Hint: leave your laptop at home.

If these things do not work, you may need to talk to a professional, especially if you have had suicidal thoughts, or feeling depressed for extended periods.

Therapist are now online. Here are a few links for your review. I can not validate the services but these links can help you get you started. https://www.betterhelp.com/get-started/

https://www.top10.com/online-therapy

Stay well and unplug, your mental health depends on it!

Dance Like No One is Watching…

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

Time is precious. When I was a child, time seemed to drag but as an adult, days and weeks are moving so fast that everything becomes a blur. Before you know it, life would have passed you by and left you will be wondering where did the time go.

With that said, dance like no one is watching and enjoy yourself everyday. Learn to live in the moment, so you can enjoy your family and friends. Eat in moderation, exercise and mind your own business. Take care of your own needs first so you will have the energy and stamina to take care of others.

Remember to dance like no one is watching, because most likely no one is watching and if they are maybe they will join you.

Happy Nurse’s Week!

Nursing is an art, and providing care and comfort to others can be challenging. Nurses experience both the highs and lows of life with patients and their families. We are an intricate part of the healthcare team to ensure continuity of care for all that utilize the healthcare system.

As we celebrate another nurses week, take time and thank the nurses in your circle. The past few years has been tough for all healthcare professionals, especially those who work at the bedside. So many nurses have left the profession due to stress and feeling unappreciated.

Nurses, be encouraged, although many of the task you perform can be duplicated by others, remember you also provide the human touch of empathy and compassion for those utilizing the healthcare system. As younger nurses enter the nursing profession, it is essential that seasoned nurses assist them in developing strong critical thinking skills so they can be an effective member of the healthcare team.

Enjoy the week and know every day is nurses day in healthcare because you make the difference!

STRESS AWARENESS

April is stress awareness month. We all have experienced stress at sometime in our life but the issue becomes crucial when the stress interferes with our well being. We can maintain our mental and physical health by managing the stress with activities that bring you joy, and or communicating with others about your stress and anxiety.

Managing stress is an essential tool to maintain your health and well being. Stress can cause mental and physical illness if it isn’t handled appropriately.

Take care of yourself and your family. It is also imperative to recognize stress in your children, so you can teach them healthy outlets for managing their stress and anxiety. Currently, healthcare facilities are seeing more children and adolescents with mental health issues than in the past. Many cities have a shortage of mental practitioners and mental health beds.

Seek assistance so you can have well adjusted children, and take care of yourself.

National Public Health Week

Public health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play.

Public health professionals conduct scientific research, education, and setting health standards for the communities where we work and live. Public health sets safety standards to protect workers and develops school nutrition programs to ensure kids have access to healthy food.

Public health works to track disease outbreaks, prevent injuries and shed light on why some of us are more likely to suffer from poor health than others. The many facets of public health include speaking out for laws that promote smoke-free indoor air and seat-belts, spreading the word about ways to stay healthy and giving science-based solutions to problems.

Check out one of the videos above to get a better understanding of public health and do what you can do to remain healthy and well.

References

What is Public Health? (2022). https://www.apha.org/What-is-Public-Health

Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old system of natural healing that’s truly stood the test of time. First originating in the Vedic culture of India, it’s actually considered by many to be the oldest healing science there is.

What is meant by “Ayurvedic medicine”? This system is based on the premise that there are three doshas, or body types, and depends on body composition, metabolism, digestion and other factors. Ayurvedic medicine addresses this components.

According to a report published by University of Maryland Medical Center, Ayurvedic medicine and an appropriate Ayurvedic diet can help treat inflammatory, hormonal, digestive and autoimmune problems.

Ayurveda is heavily practiced in India and Nepal, where around 80% of the population report using it. Ayurveda therapies have varied and evolved over more than two millennia. Therapies include herbal medicines, special diets, meditation, yoga, massage, laxatives, enemas, and medical oils (Ayurvedic Medicine, 2019).

Reference:

Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth. (2019). https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/ayurvedic-medicine-in-depth

https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/blog/know-yourself-by-knowing-your-ayurvedic-body-type/

Miller, K. (2019). What is Ayurveda? https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/ayurvedic-treatments

Love Bombing

“Love bombing is a tactic in which a person uses excessive and disproportionate gestures of affection with the goal of manipulation and establishing control over their partner. This can include elaborate gift-giving, over-complimenting, wanting undivided attention, and other manipulative tactics” (Jones, 2022).

Love bombing is most often used by narcissists and abusive people, as a method to quickly obtain affection and attention before tearing their victims down (Olsson, 2022). They may appear charming and exciting in the beginning, but this usually fades away and is replaced with emotional abuse” (Olsson, 2022).

Dating in 2023 can be challenging these days. Social media has changed the way individuals meet and socialize. It appears many lack the verbal communication skills needed to carry on normal conversation.

I had never heard of the term “love bombing, until a friend mentioned the phrase during a conversation we were having related to relationships. It is a concept that can be over whelming for the recipient who is receiving these gestures. The attention may seem genuine in the beginning, but can become abusive if one asserts their will against the person who is attentive to your needs. For those who have not experienced “love bombing” you may not recognize the emotional abuse that occurs until you are well immersed into the relationship.

We all want to feel wanted and loved and when you meet someone who appears to be interested and says the right things, it is easy to let down your guard. My suggestion to you, is to take your time to get to know your potential partner and set boundaries early. It is important to maintain your current friendships and continue the activities you love to keep your life in balance, so you do not loose yourself in the new relationship.

Good luck! Finding that special person can take time and effort. Be patient and know good communication and compromise is an essential key in any relationship.

Reference

Jones, H. (2022). What is Love Bombing? https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-love-bombing-5224664

Lamothe, C. (2019). Love Bombing: 10 Signs of Over-the-Top Love. https://www.healthline.com/health/love-bombing

Olsson, R. (2022). Love bombing. https://www.bannerhealth.com/healthcareblog/teach-me/what-is-love-bombing-and-how-to-recognize-the-signs

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes means your blood sugar is too high while you are pregnant, and usually goes away after you give birth (WebMD, 2023). However, it can affect your baby’s health, and increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life (WebMD, 2023).

Symptoms include, increased thirst, urination and appetite. It is recommended a change in diet and increase in physical exercise as essential tools to reduce the probability of developing diabetes. Diabetes can cause blindness, renal disease that can lead to dialysis, strokes and or cardiac issues resulting in death.

If anyone in your immediate family (mother, father, brother or sister) has diabetes the chances of you developing gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes is likely. This is a serious matter, especially if you have symptoms of per-diabetes. Take heed, you can do something to change your health outcomes, with diet and exercise.

Reference

Gestational Diabetes (2023). WebMD.https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/gestational-diabetes#091e9c5e80008fc8-1-1

The Nation has an Obesity Problem…

Obesity is considered an epidemic in this country. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 41.9% of Americans were obese in 2017 (CDC, 2022). The numbers of obese individuals has probably increased to greater than 50% in 2023, but no current data is available.

According to the Roberts Woods Johnson (2023) data, obesity is the result of several factors such as overeating, lack of physical activity, genetics, culture, and metabolism. Personally, I do not want to subscribe to the idea of genetics and metabolism when diet consumption is probably a result of culture, habit and the type of food consumed. There are food deserts all across the United States in low income neighborhoods. Sadly, it is cheaper to buy fast food then a head of lettuce and a tomato.

Americans consume to much fast food, that is full of sugar and fat. As a result we have an unhealthy population. Sugar is added to many foods as a filler. Sugar is addicting (Healthline, 2022). You will find sugar is added to most foods to enhance the taste, thus making it difficult to remove from your diet.

Obesity is linked to many health issues that can change the quality of your life, or cause death, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain types of cancer, and stroke (CDC, 2022).

Here are the 10 states with the highest rates of obesity:

Mississippi – 40.80%
West Virginia – 39.70%
Arkansas – 37.40%
Oklahoma – 36.80%
Kentucky – 36.50%
Tennessee – 36.50%
Alabama – 36.10%
Michigan – 36.00%
Louisiana – 35.90%
South Carolina – 35.40%

Go to the link below to find your state ranking. It is your personal responsibility to take care of your health and well being. You can start by changing one thing in your diet and see if it makes a difference. Try giving up soda, or french fries, and stop supersizing your food, and drink more water. Your body will appreciate it and you will feel better.

References:

Adult Obesity Facts/Overweight. (2022). https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html

Healthline. (2022). https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/experts-is-sugar-addictive-drug

Martin Luther King

The establishment of the Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) federal holiday was passed in 1983. It was celebrated nationally on the 3rd Monday of January in 1986. The legislation for this holiday was first introduced in 1968 and blocked in Congress. MLK believed in nonviolence and pushed for civil rights for African Americans during the 1960s. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39 years old.

African American men were allowed to vote in 1870. However, African American women were not. During that time, many African American men were elected to Congress. The Southern States implemented rules in the 1890’s to discourage them from voting and to ensue they would not participate in ruling this country.

(Getty Images)

Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination in public spaces and employment. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was also passed, to include all Americans in the voting process. Consequently, The Voting Rights Act had been extended by Congress in 1970, 1975, and 1982 to address all irregularities related to voting and federal oversight. However, in 2013, the Supreme Court declared the key provisions in the act that involved federal oversight of voting rules in nine states (archives.gov/milestone-document/15th-amendment) was unconstitutional and not needed. Most recently, the 117th Congress failed to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act in 2021. The bill would have addressed voter registration, access and integrity, security, redistricting, and campaign finance, as well as establishing the Election Day as a federal holiday (www.congressDC.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5746).

As you celebrate the day, think about the reason for the holiday. Think about what you can personally do to encourage your congressional representative to support the passage of the voting rights bill when it comes up again for a vote in Congress.

Below of some of my favorite quotes from Martin Luther King.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle.”

We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”

“A man can not ride your back if it’s not bent.”

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

January is the month to raise awareness about human trafficking. Wear blue on January 11, 2023 to bring attention to sexual trafficking and educate yourself and others about this hidden crime. Psychological warfare, physical force, and violence are used to intimidate others to remain a captive to those who promote sexual trafficking.

Photo by Vinicius Wiesehofer on Pexels.com

Human trafficking affects both young and old, regardless of economics, race, gender or age. It maybe happening in your neighbor, so educate yourself and increase your awareness.

Some of the indicators of human trafficking include: Homes with numerous people being picked up and dropped off at the same time. You may notice the lights are on at a workplace at strange times. Individuals who seem scared, confused or have untreated injuries, and avoid eye contact or conversation with others. All modes of communication are controlled, that include mail, phones, and the inability to speak to others due to fear. Bruises or other physical and or psychological trauma may also be present.

Be aware, if you see something, notify authorities. You maybe saving someones life.

References

Hope for Justice.(2023). https://hopeforjustice.org/spot-the signs/

#WearBlueDay-January 11

BlueCampaign.(2023).www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign.

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